Hernia belt



April 3, 19340 w. R. GREENFIELD HERNIA BELT Filed Aug. 5, 1931 INVENTQR ZUZMz'a/n 7?. Greenfield BY ATT?TE 1 30 together.

Patented Apr. 3, 1934 um'rso srA'rEs HERNIA BELT William R. Greenfield, Jackson, Mich, assignolito Kellogg Corset Company, Jackson, Mich.

Application August 5, 1931, Serial No. 555,343

6 Claims.

" The main object of this invention is to provide a hernia belt of improved construction and operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hernia belt of this type having a hernia support which adjusts itself automatically and remains in place regardless of the flexing or position of the wearers body.

Objects relating to details and economies of my invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanymg drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a hernia belt embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary View in rear elevation of the belt showing the hernia support.

' Fig. 3 is a section taken on lines corresponding to lines 3-3 of Figs. 1 and 2, and

Fig. 4 is a reduced fragmentary rear elevation of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, numeral 1 indicates a posture belt, 2 an adjustable perineal, and 3 the hernia support. The posture belt 1 comprises a body band made in two side sections 4 and 5 which are provided with hooks 6 and eyes 7 at their front ends whereby to readily connect them The rear ends of the sections of the body band are provided with reinforced eyes 8 through which are threaded lacings 9 which are connected at their ends to side straps 10, the side straps being attached at their front ends to 5 the belt at 11. The straps 10 are provided with adjusting buckles 12 whereby the belt may be adjusted to the body of the wearer indicated by dotted lines 13.

The posture belt 1 is designed so as to curve in 1 0 at 14 under the abdomen for reinforcing the 7 by the belt which in turn distributes it over a large area of the wearers back. By reinforcing the abdominal muscles and fitting smoothly over the abdominal wall, the posture belt reduces and holds in place the ventral and inguinal hernia.

The hernia support 3 consists of an arched or curved strip or bayonet 1.5 of spring steel which is carried by an inner downwardly inclined pocket 'T .55 16 which is associated with the posture belt 1.

The bayonet 15 is free to slide in the pocket 16 so that it may be removed entirely therefrom or its position adjusted as desired by the wearer. An adjustable metal plate 17 of aluminum or the like is secured or fixed to the lower end of the bayonet 15 which supports a pad 18 of soft material. The pad 18 and plate 17 are enclosed in a cover 19 of soft material such as chamois. The adjustable metal plate 1'? may be shaped to any desired contour carrying with it the pad 18 and the cover 19. The hernia support 3 is adapted to press upwardly against the rupture to prevent its protrusion and form a safe and positive control. It can be adjusted to the exact curve or outline of the wearers body and moved in har- 7 mony therewith.

One end of the adjustable perineal strap 2 is connected by means of a snap fastener 20 to the front of the belt directly above the position of the bayonet 15, and the other end is connected by a snap fastener 21 to the side of the belt. A buckle 22 provides means whereby the length of the perineal strap 2 may be adjusted. The ex-' act degree of contact required by the wearer to insure perfect control is brought about by the adjustable lacing strap 10 and the adjustable perineal strap 2 terminating over the arch of the bayonet 15. The spring bayonet 15 is adapted to hold the pad constantly over the hernia opening regardless of the movement or position of the wearers body, the spring bayonet flexing in accordance with such movement.

The perineal strap 2 and the abdominal supporting portion 14 of the posture belt prevent it from sliding up on the wearers body.

When properly adjusted, the action of the hernia belt is to hold the weight of the organs in the abdominal cavity from pressing down upon the impulse of rupture. The hernia support has an action on the hernia which may be likened to that of three fingers of the hand pressed against the rupture which prevents its protrusion and forms a safe and positive control. The wearer is free to move in any desired manner without aiiecting the position or operation of the support.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described 1 5 embodiments of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I 11110 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. The combination with a posture belt consisting of two sections detachably connected at the front and connected by lacings at the back and provided with adjustable side straps connected at their front ends adjacent the front ends of the sections and connected to the rear ends of the sections in crossed relation, of a downwardly facing inclined pocket-like holder secured to the inner side of said belt, a hernia support comprising an inwardly curved spring strip frictionally supported for longitudinal adjustment in said holder, an adjustable plate non-adjustably secured to the lower end of said strip, a pad disposed on said plate, a cover enclosing said plate and pad and the lower end of said strip, said plate being adapted to be formed or bent according to the requirements of the wearer Without the use of adjusting screws, bolts, and the like, and an adjustable perineal strap secured at one end to said belt to overlie said pad and at the other end to the side of the belt.

2. The combination with a posture belt, of a downwardly facing inclined pocket-like holder secured to the inner side of said belt, a hernia support comprising an inwardly curved spring strip frictionally supported for longitudinal adjustment in said holder, an adjustable plate nonadjustably secured to the lower end of said strip,

' a pad disposed on said plate, and a cover enclosthe front and connected by lacings at the back and provided with adjustable side straps connected at their front ends adjacent the front ends of the sections and connected to the rear ends of the sections in crossed relation, of a downwardly facing inclined pocket-like holder secured to the inner side of said belt, a hernia support comprising a spring strip frictionally supported for longitudinal adjustment in said holder, a pad on the lower end of said strip, and a perineal strap secured at one end to said belt, to overlie said pad and at the other end to the side of the belt.

4. The combination with a posture belt, of a downwardly facing inclined pocket-like holder secured to the inner side of said belt, a hernia support comprising a spring strip frictionally supported for longitudinal adjustment in said holder, and a pad on the lower end of said strip.

5. The combination with abelt, of an inner holder associated therewith, and ahernia support comprising a flexible spring member frictionally supported for longitudinal adjustment in said holder, an adjustable plate fixed to the outer end of said support member, a pad on said plate, and an adjustable perineal strap detachably secured at one end to said belt in overlying relation to said pad and at the other end to the side of the belt.

6. The combination with a belt, of an inner holder associated therewith, and a hernia support comprising a flexible spring member frictionally supported forlongitudinal adjustment in said holder, and an adjustable plate fixed to the outer end of said support member, said plate being adapted to be formed or bent according to the requirements of the wearer without the use of adjusting screws, bolts, and the like.

WILLIAM R. GREENFIELD. 

